Ice maker with bin actuated control means



Nov. 16, 1965 G. w. BECK ETAL ICE MAKER WITH BIN ACTUATED CONTROL MEANS'7 Sheets-Sheet l Driginal Filed Oct. 23, 1962 Y .H 5 WW M m mm m.mfiKmm A mwafi m M in m a u, Ad d v M&W

Nov. 16, 1965 G. W. BECK ETAL ICE MAKER WITH BIN ACTUATED CONTROL MEANSOriginal Filed Oct. 25, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/V VE' N TOR'S BY V maxArron/5y Nov. 16, 1965 G. w. BECK ETAL 3,217,506

ICE MAKER WITH BIN ACTUATED CONTROL MEANS Original Filed Oct. 23, 1962 7Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTORS 'eagge (4 Beck Mafia) 6'. finz'f'f'z'n Benny272 (ii/Merry :5. Ex BY v Nov. 16, 1965 e. w. BECK ETAL 3,217,506

ICE MAKER WITH BIN ACTUATED CONTROL MEANS Original Filed Oct. 23, 1962 7Sheets-Sheet 4 7795/1? ATTORNEY Nov. 16, 1965 G. w. BECK ETAL 3,

ICE MAKER WITH BIN ACTUATED CONTROL MEANS Original Filed Oct; 23, 1962'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 76 .47; 27 l .Y 1 w w 7.9 9

//v VENTORS' @eoaqe (4 Beck 64/4/26? 6: Kai/fin Benny 272 (ii/Margy BY vI a 1% N 1965 G. w. BECK ETAL 3,217,506

ICE MAKER WITH BIN ACTUATED CONTROL MEANS Original Filed Oct. 23, 1962'7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS 6205p: Zlf. Beck [dd/2e) 6. Xzzz'ff'fn71951:? AYP'ORMC'Y Nov. 16, 1965 G. w. BECK ETAL ICE MAKER WITH BINACTUATED CONTROL MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Oct. 23, 1962United States Patent '0 6 Claims. (Cl. 62-137) This application is adivision of our co-pending application S.N. 232,355 filed October 23,1962.

This invention relates to refrigeration and more particularly to amachine or apparatus for automatically making ice blocks and ejectingthe blocks therefrom into a storage receptacle from which may beharvested.

We are aware of the fact that others have constructed ice block makingapparatuses for use in mechanically refrigerated household refrigeratorcabinets but to date such apparatuses have been so expensive that anordinary purchaser of a household refrigerator has been discouraged frompaying the additional cost of an apparatus of this type therein and hastherefore been deprived of the advantages thereof. Most of theseapparatuses have employed artificial heat in ejecting ice blocks fromtheir freezing mold or tray and this, in addition to increasing the costof operating a refrigerator equipped with same, also decreases theeificiency of the refrigerating system due to dissipation of heat intothe freezing chamber. We contemplate an ice block making apparatus forinstallation in a freezing chamber of a refrigerator cabinet which ispractical, of low cost to operate and of such small retail price as toenhance the desirability of the public to purchase a householdrefrigerator cabinet furnished with an automatic ice maker.

An object of our invention is to provide a low cost reliable ice blockmaking apparatus for installation in a household refrigerator cabinetwhich apparatus is positive in operation and from which ice blocks areejected in a dry state into a storage or harvesting receptacle removablylocated in the cabinet.

Another object of our invention is to provide an ice block makingapparatus with a mold or tray that is rotatable and twistable forejecting ice blocks therefrom and wherein warpage of the mold or traydue to its twisting is removed before the tray is rotated into aposition to receive water therein for increasing the practicability andlongevity of this portion of the apparatus to insure proper operationthereof.

Another object of our invention is to provide a unique arrangement in anautomatic ice block making apparatus for converting revolutions of aunidirectional electric motor into opposite rotary movement of atwistable ice mold or tray thereof to initially twist the tray in afirst direction and to reversely twist same in a second direction.

A further object of our invention is to provide an automaticallyoperated ice block making apparatus with a thermally responsive meansdevoid of actuatable or movable elements which is shielded fromtemperatures in the vicinity of the freezing device portion thereof todetect the freezing solid of ice blocks therein and which means isrendered effective only thereby for initiating an ice block ejectingcycle of the apparatus.

A still further and more specific object of our invention is to providean automatic ice making apparatus having an upright elongated twistableice block tray mounted in a freezing chamber for rotation therein withmechanical or cam means interposed between a unidirection motor and oneend of the tray which changes 360 revolutions of the motor into oppositerotary driving movements of Ice one end of the tray to cause the otherend thereof to engage stationary stops thereat for effecting a double orreverse twist of the tray before same is returned to its uprightposition.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a multichambered household refrigeratorcabinet showing the door to the freezing chamber thereof in openposition to illustrate an ice block making apparatus of our inventionmounted therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through thefreezing chamber portion of the refrigerator cabinet taken on the line2-2 of FIGURE 1 and illustrating a pipe connection to the cabinet forsupplying water to the ice making apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged broken horizontal sectional viewtaken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 showing the top of the ice makingapparatus with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate a part of theapparatus cut-off mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary broken sectional view of the ice makingapparatus taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the freezing device and iceblock storage receptacle portions of the ice making apparatus and istaken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 in a direction toward the front of thefreezing chamber;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4in a direction toward the rear of the freezing chamber showing anabutment and a stop' to be engaged by the tray of the ice maker;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4through a mechanism housing of the apparatus showing a motion convertingmeans therein;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 4showing a switch and other electrical elements of the ice makingapparatus housed in the mechanism housing;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view through the mechanism contained inthe housing of the apparatus taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8 showinganother portion of the motion converting means and a gear train foroperating same;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating a lower shifted position ofthe ice storage receptacle when sub stantially filled with ice blocksfor terminating production of ice blocks by the ice maker;

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electric wiring circuit for theice making apparatus;

FIGURE 12 is a schematic view illustrating an initial rotation and twistof the ice freezing tray of the apparatus in one direction;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 illustrating rotation andtwisting of the ice freezing tray in another direction.

While the general principle of twisting a flexible or resilient iceblock freezing device, mold or tray, for loosening ice blocks thereinfrom walls thereof has been known for some time by those familiar withthe art and any warpage of the mold or tray incurred by its twisting wasmanually removed therefrom prior to refilling the mold or tray withwater. This twist principle was carried over into automatic ice machinesor apparatuses by others and it has presented a problem therein whichhas not as yet been fully overcome. For example, in an ice makingmachine utilizing a rotatable and twistable tray the warpage impartedthereto by its distortion must be entirely removed therefrom prior toreturning the tray to an upright water filling position. If such is notdone the tray will take on a permanent set whereby end portions thereofare out of horizontal alignment with one another when the tray isuprighted and it cannot be filled to a uniform level along its length. Anonuniform upper surface of ice blocks in the tray during continuedoperation of the machine or apparatus to eject the blocks may cause anice block or blocks to remain in pockets or compartments of the traythus resulting in overflow thereof by water at a subsequent refilling ofthe tray therewith. Furthermore, in former ice making machines orapparatuses known to us utilizing a rotatable twistable water freezingtray a costly reversible motor and reversing switch or a reciprocatingice motor which must be heated has been employed to twist the tray inopposite directions. The last phase of operation of the motor in areverse direction to return the tray against a stop in an uprightfrigerator cabinet of the no frost or frost free type wherein air in thechamber is circulated therefrom across an evaporator, of a refrigeratingsystem associated with the refrigerator by an air moving means, chilledto a low temperature and then forced in somewhat of a concentratedstream back into the chamber over at least the water freezing device ofthe ice maker. We show in FIGURE 1 of the drawings a householdrefrigerator cabinet 10 having a plurality of insulated walls 11 (seeFIGURE 2) providing an unfrozen food storage chamber in the upper partof the cabinet, closed by a door 12, and a freezing or frozen foodstorage chamber 13 in the lower part of the cabinet normally closed by adoor 14, illustrated in open position to show our ice making apparatuslocated therein. A detailed description of a refrigerator and arefrigerating system associated therewith of the character described isunnecessary herein since such is now on the market and is preferably ofthe type disclosed in the L. J. Mann Patent No. 2,912,834 dated November17, 1959. This patent is made of reference as exemplifying a morespecific or full disclosure of the type of refrigerating apparatus andcontrol thereof associated with refrigerator 10. The refrigeratingsystem allied with cabinet 10 includes a plate-type refrigerantevaporator (not shown) for cooling the interior of the upper chamberclosed by door 12, a finned tube type evaporator 16 mounted beneath afalse bottom of lower chamber 13 (see FIGURE 2), a motor-compressorcontaining casing 17, a refrigerant condenser 18, a refrigerantrestrictive capillary tube 19 connected to evaporator 16 and suitablepipes or conduits connecting these elements of the system in closedrefrigerant flow relationship. Evaporator 16 maintains all of theinterior of chamber 13 at a temperature below 32 F. and preferably inthe neighborhood of 10 to 15 F. An air moving means in the form of amotor driven fan or blower 21 circulates air out of or away from chamber13 through inlet openings 22 across evaporator 16, to chill the air to apredetermined temperature lower than the below 32 F. temperature in thechamber, say for example at F., and discharges a stream or streams ofthis very low temperatured chilled air back into chamber '13 througheach of a plurality of outlets 23 over the freezing device portion orice mold of the ice making apparatus located in this chamber.

Ice making apparatus The ice making apparatus disposed in chamber 13 ofrefrigerator 10 includes an elongated resilient twistable freezingdevice, mold or tray 25 located in an upright position within thechamber and supported at its ends for rotation therein on a bracket 26secured by spacers 27 and screws 28 (see FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6) to thevertical side wall 29 of chamber 13. Tray or mold 25 is provided withwalls dividing the interior thereof into a row of pockets orcompartments 31 adapted to receive water to be frozen into ice blockswithin chamber 13. The tray 25 is formed of any suitable material andpreferably of polyethylene of such density as to be self-sustaining ornonsaggable intermediate its ends when pockets or compartments 31thereof are substantially filled with water. The general configurationof tray 25- and the shape of walls of pockets or compartments 31 thereinare preferably as more fully illustrated and described in the copendingapplication of Walter G. Kniffin, S.N. 136,459 filed September 7, 1961,entitled Freezing Device now Patent No. 3,075,364 dated January 29,1963, and assigned to the assignee of this application. Metal cleats 33are secured by rivets or the like 34 to ends of tray or mold 25. Thecleat 33 at the rear end of tray 25 is provided with a round pivotalmounting portion 36 which fits over or surrounds a rounded stud or pin37 secured to one end 38 of the bracket 26 (see FIGURES 3, 4 and 6). Thecleat 33 at the front end of tray 25 is provided with a squared orflattened mounting portion 41 which fits over or surrounds a squared orflattened part 42 of a drive stud or shaft 43 to be hereinafterdescribed (see FIGURES 3, 4 and 5). It is to be understood that thefront end and the rear end of mold or tray 25 as referred to is to beconsidered the end thereof located closest to door 14 of chamber 13 andthe end closest to the back wall of this chamber respectively. Anabutment in the form of a stud 44 and a stop in the form of a stud 46are each rigidly or stationarily mounted to rear end plate 38 of bracket26 (see FIGURES 3, 6, 12 and 13) and at arcuately spaced-apart pointsabout the horizontal axis of rotation of tray 25 in the path of oppositerotary movements thereof and are to be engaged by rear end positions ofthe tray by the metal cleat 33 thereat to limit the amplitude ofrotation of this end of the tray as will be hereinafter described.

A mechanism for rotating tray 25 in a first direction and thence in asecond direction wholly within a 360 arc to effect an initial slighttwist and at least an equal or greater reverse twist of the tray andelectrically energizable means for controlling the mechanism to filltray 25 with water to be frozen therein is provided. This mechanismincludes a mechanical motion converting means and a so-called stackedelectric switch associated therewith located in a housing generallyrepresented at 50 which is rigidly mounted upon the front end portion ofbracket 26 by screws or the like 51 (see FIGURES 4, 5, 7 and 8).Housing/50 contains a small unidirectional electric motor including astator 52 and a rotor 53 (see FIGURES 8 and 9) having a small gear 54keyed, in any suitable or conventional manner, to its shaft 55. A gear56 rotatably mounted on a shaft 57 has teeth 58 formed on its peripherymeshing with the teeth on gear 54 and is provided with a small hubportion provided with gear teeth 59. The teeth 59 mesh with teeth 61 ona gear 62 rotatably about a shaft 63. Gear 62 is provided with a hubportion (see FIGURES 7 and 9) having teeth 64 formed thereon. Teeth 64on gear 62 mesh with teeth 66 provided on the periphery of a moldedplastic disk-like member 67 rotatably mounted in housing 50 on a shaft68 having one of its ends journaled in a bearing thereof and its otherend journaled in another bearing formed in front closure plate 69 forthe housing which is secured thereto by screws 71 (see FIGURES 4, 7 and8). A molded plastic or the like decorative cover may be removablyattached to housing 50 for substantially enclosing same. A gear train asdisclosed is conventional, well known to those skilled in the art andtherefore needs no further structural description herein.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 7, 12 and 13 of the drawings, it will benoted that a cam means or continuous cam groove or race 73 is providedin one face of wheel or disklike member 67. The cam groove or race 73forms with other elements to be described a motion transmitting andconverting means in the present apparatus for changing 360 revolutionsof rotor 53 of the unidirectional electric motor into opposite rotarymovements of the freezing mold or tray 25 whereby a double or reversetwisting thereof is obtained to obviate the necessity of employing morecostly means to effect same. A gear segment 75 (see FIGURE 7) ispivotally mounted within housing 50 on a pin or stud 76 and is providedwith teeth 77 which mesh with teeth 78 on a gear 79 formed on the shaft43 within a bearing 81 of the housing for driving the freezing device ortray component 25 of the ice making apparatus (see FIGURES 4, 8, 12 and13). The gear segment 75 has a cam follower stud or roller 83 securedthereto and disposed within groove or race 73 for reciprocating the gearsegment in accordance with differentially curved or lobe portions of thecam race upon rotation of member 67 by the motor rotor 53 through thetrain of gears de scribed.

Referring further to FIGURES 4 and 8 of the drawings, it is to be notedthat the one end portion of hub 86 on cam wheel member 67 is cut out asat 87 to provide a flat key portion (see FIGURE 8) which receives a flatportion 88 of an opening in a multishouldered disk 89 located betweenhub 86 and the bearing for shaft 68 in housing 50 for locking the disk89 onto this wheel member to be rotated therewith. Disk 89 is providedwith three circumferentially spaced-apart outwardly projecting shoulders91, 92 and 93 thereon about the periphery thereof. It will be noted thata peripheral edge 96 on disk 89 is continuous intermediate shoulders 91and 92 and projects outwardly beyond or is of a greater diameter than aperipheral edge 94 on the disk, between shoulders 91 and 93, for apurpose to be hereinafter described with respect to an electric stackswitch incorporated in housing 50. A portion of the smaller diameteredperipheral edge 94 of disk 89 adjacent shoulder 93 is undercut, belowedge 94, and flattened as at 97 for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed. An insulator board 100 having a printed electric circuitprovided on one side thereof, in a conventional fashion now well knownto those skilled in the art, is adjustably mounted or secured withinhousing 50 and carries on its opposite side, in addition to certainelements of an electric system for the ice making apparatus, a stackswitch generally represented at 101 comprised of several subswitches.Switch 101 includes a plurality of spaced-apart spring arms or bladessuitably insulated from one another and some of which are conductors ofelectric current. For example, switch 101 is provided with spring arms102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107 (see FIGURE 8) with the arms 103 and 104each carrying a mating contact adapted to engage one another and withthe arm 106 carrying a contact on each opposite side thereof adapted toalternatively engage a contact on arm 105 and a contact on arm 107.Spring arms 102, 103 and 106 extends beyond ends of arms 104, 105 and107 and the extension on arm 103 has an insulator pin 109 mountedthereon and projecting therethrough to either side thereof with its oneend 111 abutting against arm 102. The other end 112 of pin 109 isnormally spaced from spring arm 106 but is adapted to engage this armand shift the contact on the upper side thereof away from the contact onarm 105 and for shifting the contact on the lower side thereof intoengagement with the contact on the lower side thereof into engagementwith the contact on arm 107. The end of arm extension 102 rests againstthe undercut flat portion 97 of rotatable disk 89 while normallymaintaining contacts on arms 103 6 and 104 separated or opened and topermit the spring tension of arm 106 to bias the contact thereon closedagainst the contact on arm for the purpose of keeping an electricalcircuit of the ice making apparatuses activated.

Deactivation of the electric circuit of the ice making apparatus is ofcourse desired to stop production of ice blocks thereby after apredetermined accumulation thereof in the refrigerator cabinet 10 and/orwhen an ice block storage and serving receptacle associated with theapparatus is removed from freezing chamber 13. For this purpose weprovide an arrangement for terminating the production of ice blockswhich includes a means cooperating with a sub-switch of stack switch 101and with an ice block storage receptacle 115 remowably supported orlocated beneath the ice maker in chamber 13 (see FIGURES 1 and 2). Theterminating or cut-off means comprises a heavy round wire or bar 116which has a hook end portion pivotally anchored in a hole provided in abearing 117 (see FIGURE 4) of housing 50 with an inward extension of thebar flattened as at 118 and secured within the housing by a suitableclamping or locking spring nut 119 (see FIGURE 8). A flat lever 121 hasits one end keyed to the flattened part 118 of wire or bar 116 in backof nut 119 and its other end 122 (see FIG- URE 8) is adapted to engagean ear 123 (see FIGURE 4) formed integral on and extending laterallyfrom arm 105 of electric switch 101. The lower end portion of wire orbar 116 depends into association with the ice storage receptacle 115 andis bent angularly as at 124 (see FIGURES 4, 5 and 10) so as to rock orswing the bar about its pivotal anchorage for shifting lever 121 tocause the end 122 thereof to raise the contact on switch arm 105upwardly out of engagement with the contact on arm 106 of switch 101 inresponse to movements of the storage receptacle. Upstanding walls ofbox-like ice block storage receptacle, bin, or bucket 115 has the top ofits two long sides and its rear end flanged outwardly as at 126 and issupported on inwardly flanged parts 127 of side portions of bracket 26.The upstanding front end of receptacle 115 is provided with a handleportion 129 (see FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 10) the upper surface of which israised above the flange portions 126 and has an upwardly inclinedshoulder 131 disposed at an angle substantially corresponding to theangular disposition of the lower end part 124 of bar or wire 116 forcooperation therewith adjacent a front corner of the ice blockreceptacle. Flange part 127 of bracket 26 on the side thereof farthestaway from side wall 29 of freezing chamber 13 is preferably continuousthroughout the length of the bracket. The flange part 127 of bracket 26on the side thereof nearest side wall 29 is cut away as at 133 (seeFIGURE 4) intermediate ends thereof and a long narrow normally upwardlybowed spring 134 spans the separated or spacedapart portions of flange127 at this side of the bracket. One end of spring 134 is secured byrivets or the like 136 to the front spaced portion of flange 127 and theother end thereof slidably bears against the spaced rear portion offlange 127. The bowed spring 134 receives thereon one outwardly flangedside 126 of receptacle 115 and normally supports that side of thereceptacle thereat elevated above its other side as best seen in FIGURES4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. In this normal position of receptacle 115the lower angular part 124 of rotatable or swingable bar 116 mates withand bears against the upwardly inclined shoulder 131 on the front of thereceptacle (see FIGURE 5) for holding the end 122 of lever 121 inengagement with the under face of ear 123 on arm 105 of switch 101 so asto ready lever 121 capable of moving the contact on arm 105 away fromthe contact on switch arm 106. When receptacle 115 is shifted, relativeto its support or flanges 127, as will be more fully describedhereinafter, lower end 124 of bar 116 is freed from shoulder 131 and thebar swings abouts its pivotal mounting against a stop pin 141 on theback of housing 50 undo the influence of a hairpin or the like spring142 into the position shown in dot-dash lines in FIGURE or the full lineposition thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 10. Rotation of the pivotallymounted portion of bar 116 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFIGURE 8 of the drawings, after being freed from receptacle 115, rendersspring 142 effective to overcome the spring tension of spring arm 105 onswitch 101 and the end 122 of lever 121 separates the contact on arm 105from the contact on switch arm 106 to deactivate an electric circuit ofthe ice making apparatus.

Water supply We provide the ice maker with means for automaticallyfilling the tray with water to be frozen into ice blocks in pockets orcompartments thereof within freezing chamber 13. This means includes, inaddition to a sub-switch portion of switch 101, a pipe 146 (see FIGURE2), having a manually actuated shut-off valve 147 therein, which isconnected to a source of water supply under pressure. Another pipe 148extends from valve 147 through an insulated wall of chamber 13 ofcabinet 10 and is provided with a nonmetallic molded plastic portion 149having its outlet end disposed above tray out of the path of rotationthereof. Outlet end of water tube or pipe 149 is positioned arcuatelywith respect to the axis of tray 25 within an arc between a clockwiseinitial twist of the tray and a 30 reverse or counterclockwise twistthereof after the tray is rotated from a horizontal position into asubstantially vertical position. A solenoid actuated valve 151, includedin the electrical system of the apparatus, is interposed in pipe 148between outlet end 149 thereof and valve 147 for admitting water intotray 25. In the present disclosure disk 89, rotated with the cam meansor wheel member 67, and the cooperation thereof with a sub-switch partof electric switch 101, is the control for water valve 151 and thiscontrol is coordinated with elements of the electric system of theapparatus so as to open and/ or close the valve in a manner to behereinafter described.

Tray rotation control Rotation of tray 25 in the present apparatus isinitiated by a temperature responsive means which is protected fromtemperature differentials in the vicinity of the tray and is therebyrendered capable of accurately sensing the exact temperatureof solidlyfrozen ice within tray 25. We employ a thermistor 155 to detect solidice in tray 25 and this thermistor is sealed in intimate heat exchangerelationship with a wall of a compartment 31 of the tray by any suitableor desirable nonmetallic substance 156 (see FIGURES 4 and 5) so as to berotatable with the tray. The thermistor 155 is preferably locatedintermediate two adjacent compartments 31 of tray 25 and has insulatedwires 157 and 158 extending therefrom to terminals on the printedcircuit board 100. Thermistor 155 is shielded in its mounted location bya molded plastic shield or cover 159 sealed or cemented to portions oftray 25 so as to enclose same in an isolated hollow pocket or a dead airspace adjacent the tray whereby the function of the thermistor will notbe affected by blasts of the cold 5 F. temperatured air circulated intochamber 13 over the ice block maker. A thermistor is a semiocnduc tor ofelectric current that has a high negative temperature coefficient ofresistance and thus is extremely sensitive to relatively smalltemperature variations. It is a variable resistor controlled byenvironmental temperature changes and is comprised of elements immovablewith respect to one another, the condition of which are altered by thetemperature changes. In other words, when a thermistor is subjected torising temperatures, its resistance to flow of electric currenttherethrough decreases with the increase in temperature and, likewise,when subjected to lowering temperatures, there is an increase inthermistor resistance. Such thermistors are now conventional, well knownto those skilled in the art, and the thermistor 155 herein employed maybe a small disk or a head of the type disclosed in the patent to M. J.Lawrence No. 2,928,037 dated March 8, 1960.

Electrical circuit The electric circuit for the ice making apparatus inchamber 13 of refrigerator cabinet 10 includes a plurality of metalconductors which in referring to the diagrammatic illustration thereofin FIGURE 11 of the drawings will be described as wires. All devices ofthe electric system within the dot-dash lines of FIGURE 11 are on orcarried by the board located within housing 50 of the apparatus. Forexample, printed icrcuit board 100 carries a capacitor or condenser 165,a resistor 166, a diode 167 and a relay 168 (also see FIGURE 8), whichcontains within the body thereof an electromagnetic coil 169 and aswitch 171 (see FIGURE 11). Switch spring blades or arms 103, 104, 105,106 and 107 in FIGURE 11 are all sub-switch parts of the main stackswitch 101 shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawings. One end of the magneticcoil of solenoid water valve 151 is connetced by a wire 176 to powerline L and its other end is connected by a wire 177 to spring arm 107 ofswitch 101. Line L is connected by a wire 178 through resistor 166 anddiode 167 to wire 157 of thermistor 155. A wire 179 connects power lineL to Wire 158 of thermistor 155. A branch wire 181 leading from wire 178through the switch 171 of relay 168 is connected to one side of thestator winding 52 of the unidirectional motor and the other side of themotor stator is connected to the other side thereof by a branch wire 182and wire 179 to the power line L The coil 169 of relay 168 is connectedby a branch wire 183, through the electric cricuit activating contactson spring arms and 106 of switch 101, in parallel circuit relationshipwith the thermistor intermediate condenser or capacitor and the diode167. Electromagnetic coil 169 of relay 168 is in series with one portionof the two-portion electric circuit and the unidirectional motor isinterposed in another portion thereof. A branch Wire 184 connects thecondenser or capacitor 165 in parallel circuit relationship with lines Land L wires 178 and 179, intermediate relay 168 and the thermistor 155.The switch spring arms 103 and 104 of stack switch 101 are connected inparallel relationship with switch 171, contained in and actuated by coil169 or relay 168, by a branch wire 186 attached at both of its ends towire 181. Pin 109, which is shifted by rotation of disk 89 for closingcontacts on spring arms 106 and 107 of switch 101 to energize thesolenoid of water valve 151, and lever 121, which is swung about itspivotal mounting by movements of the ice storage receptacle 115, areboth shown in the diagram of FIGURE 11 as arrows designated by theirrespective numerals. The electric circuit comprises two portions one ofwhich includes wire 178, resistor 166, diode 167, wire 157, thermistor155, wires 158, 179, 183, closed contacts 105 and 106 of switch 101 andcoil 169 of relay 168 while the other portion'of the two-portion circuitincludes relay switch 171 and wires 181 and 182 having the motorinterposed therebetween. The position of sub-switches or spring arms ofswitch 101, lever 121 and pin 109 illustrated in FIGURE 11 correspond tothe position thereof shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawings and represent theelectric circuit of the ice making apparatus as being activated for awater freezing, ice ejecting cycle.

Apparatus operation In describing the operation of our apparatus andparticularly movements of sub-switches of stack switch 101 formed by theswitch spring arms or blades and contacts thereon we refer to theplurality of sub-switches by double numerals for the sake of clarity andin order to simplify the present description. Assume that compartments31 of upright rotatable tray 25 have been substantially filled withwater to be frozen into ice blocks therein within chamber 13 of cabinet10 and that removable ice block 9 storage receptacle 115 is locatedbeneath the tray supported in a slightly inclined position with one sidethereof resting on the flange support 127 and its other side resting onthe upwardly bowed spring 134 as shown in FIG- URES 1 to 6 of thedrawings. The shifting of receptacle 115 into position below tray 25 hascammed or moved end 124 of rod 116, from the dot-dash line positionthereof as shown in FIGURE 5, into the full line position shown thereinand in FIGURES 3, 4 and 8. This rotates rod 116 about its pivotalmounting in housing 50 and shifts end 122 of lever 121 into a positionimmedi atelybelow the extension 123 on switch arm 105 of switch 101 (seeFIGURE 8) to ready the ice making apparatus cutoff mechanism to beactuated by a subsequent movement of the ice receptacle. Water filledtray 25 is cooled to a below 32 F. temperature by chilled air circulatedinto chamber 13 thereover and therearound to freeze the water into iceblocks in the tray. All sub-switch parts of switch 101 are at this timein the position shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawings with the contacts onspring arms 105 and 106 closed activating the one portion of theelectric circuit leading to thermistor 155 and relay 168. Electriccurrent is now simultaneously directed from power line L by wire 178through resistor 166, diode 167, wire 157 to the thermistor 155 andbranch wires 183 and 184 through coil 169 of the relay 168 and condenseror capacitor 165, respectively, back to power line L by way of wire 179.As hereinbefore mentioned, the characteristics of thermistor 155 aresuch that its resistance to flow of electric current therethrough isdecreased in response to increases in temperature and its temperaturenow corresponds to the temperature of water received in tray 25. Theflow of electric current through thermistor 155 at this time issubstantially equal to or balances the flow thereof through coil 169 ofrelay 168 and therefore insuflicient current flows through theelectromagnetic coil 169 to cause the relay to close switch 171contained therein. Stator 52 of the unidirectional electric motor doesnot at this time receive current, by way of the wires 181, 186 and 182,and is consequently not as yet energized. Freezing of water in tray 25continues until the water in compartment 31, with which thermistor 155is associated, freezes solid. The temperature of thermistor 155continues to be reduced while water is freezing in tray 25 and itsresistance to flow of electric current therethrough gradually increases.The thermistor then senses the lowered temperature of a solidly frozenice block in compartment 31 and its current flow resistance is increasedhigh enough to cause unbalancing same with respect to relay 168whereupon sufficiently more electric current flows through coil 169 ofthe relay for electromagnetically closing switch 171 thereof. Closing ofrelay switch 171 directs electric current from power line L to the otherportion of the electric circuit by way of wire 178, switch 171, wire 181through stator 52 of the motor and back to the power line L by way ofwires 182 and 179 to now energize the unidirectional motor and cause 360revolutions of its rotor 53. Revolutions of this rotor drive the gears54, 56, 59, 62 and 64, through the train of reduction gears withinhousing 50, to also rotate wheel-like member 67 about shaft 68. Rotationof member 67 and the cam groove or race 73 therein or thereonsimultaneously drives cam follower 83 and rotates disk 89 keyed to themember 67. The driving of cam follower 83 within race 73 reciprocatesgear segment 75 which reciprocati-ons are correlated or synchronizedwith rotation of shoulders 91, 92 and 93 on switch cam disk 89 foractuating sub-switches of switch 101 in timed sequence. At the start ofoperation of the unidirectional motor and rotation of shaft 68, undercutor flattened part 97 on disk 89 is rotated, in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURE 8, past spring arm 102 on switch 101 todepress same and this forces pin 109, secured to arm 103, downwardly ashort distance to move the contact on arm 103 into engagement with thecontact on switch arm 104 thus closing this sub-switch which isconnected in parallel relation with relay switch 171. Closing ofsub-switch 103-104 effects a bypass of switch 171 when this switch isopened by relay coil 169 upon shifting switch arm 106 to open thecircuit to coil 169 and close the circuit to solenoid valve 151. Closing of sub-switch 103-104 causes flow of electric current from powerline L through wires 178, 186 and 181 to the motor until disk 89 makessubstantially a complete revolution to reset the end of spring arm 102into the flattened part 97 of the disk. During this time both cam race73 on member 67 and disk 89 have been rotated approximately 180 withperipheral edge 94 on the disk 89 bearing against spring arm 102 tomaintain subswitch 103-104 closed and with the cam followerreciprocating gear segment in response to the shape of race 73. The camor motion converting means 67, 73 and 83 initially elevates gear segment75, as viewed in FIGURE 7, to rotate tray driving gear 79 a shortdistance in a clockwise direction for rotating the driven end of tray 25in a first direction, throughout an arc of approximately 30, while theother or rear end of the tray is impinged against abutment 44 (seeFIGURE 12). This rotation of tray 25 in a first direction imparts aslight twist thereto along its longitudinal length and loosens or freesice blocks in the tray from walls of their compartments 31. The cam ormotion converting means then moves the gear segment 75 downwardly torotate driving gear 79 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFIGURE 7, for rotating tray 25 in a second direction, approximately fromits normal horizontal position (see FIGURE 13), away from abutment 44int o engagement with stop stud 46 to substantially invert the traywhereupon the .ice blocks loosened by the initial twist thereof areejected therefrom and fall into the ice block storage receptacle 115.Continued rotation of gear 79 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewedin FIG- URE 7, further rotates the driven end of tray 25 in its seconddirection, while the other or rear end thereof engages stop stud 46 (seeFIGURE 13), 30 past this stop to reversely twist the tray along itslongitudinal length. Counterclockwise rotation of the rear end of tray25 is limited, by stop 46, to an arc of 90 but the totalcounterclockwise rotary movement of its forward or driven end, inclusiveof the 30 clockwise rotation and the 30 counter-clockwise rotationthereof past stud 46, as illustratedin FIGURE 13 of the drawings, isthroughout an arc of so as to impart to the tray a reverse twist in anamount at least equal to its 30 initial twist. This reverse twisting oftray 25 is highly desirable to remove warpage therefrom, as occasionedby its initial twist, before the tray is rotated into its uprightposition. The initial rotation and twist of tray 25, ejection of iceblocks therefrom, the reverse rotation and twisting thereof and itsreturn movement, in an unwarped state, to an upright position with theother or rear end thereof reimpinged against abutment stud 44, as shownin FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings, all occur during approximatelya rotary movement of cam wheel 67. The radius of cani race 73 on camwheel 67 is uniform throughout substantially the remainder of a 180 arcin one complete revolution thereof and this part of its revolution isutilized to permit certain functions of elements of the electric circuitfor the ice making apparatus to be carried out as will be describedhereinafter. It is to be here understood that while tray 25 is beingtwisted, a certain amount of lengthwise shrinkage or so-called ropingthereof takes place and therefore cleats 33 on the tray are slidablymounted on the studs or shafts 37 and 43 for longitudinal slidingmovement therealong to permit such tray shrinkage.

During the opposite rotations and twisting movements of tray 25, disk 89also makes one complete 360 revolution with switch 103-104 closed exceptat the start and finish of rotating the tray by virtue of peripheraledge portions of the disk deflecting arm 102 on switch 101 to force pin109 to move the contact on spring arm 103 into engagement with thecontact on arm 104. While disk 89 rotates throughout a second arc ofapproximately 180 or the remainder of one of its 360 rotations, tray 25has been rerotated into its normal upright position and water valvesub-switch 106-107 has both closed and opened to refill the tray withwater. This function is a result of shoulder 91 on disk 89 being rotatedpast spring arm 102 which causes the greater diametered peripheral edge96 on the disk to depress pin 109 a further distance downward, as viewedin FIGURE 8, whereby the pin engages and shifts the contact on springarm 106 out of engagement with the contact on spring arm 105 intoengagement with the contact on spring arm 107. Opening of sub-switch105-106 and closing of sub-switch 106-107 de-energizes relay 168whereupon the switch 171 in the relay opens, while sub-switch 103-104 isclosed, and energizes the solenoid of valve 151 respectively to open thevalve. The now closed sub-switch 103-104 providing the bypass aroundrelay switch 171, as previously described, is thus necessary at thistime to keep the motor energized for completing the cycle of operation.Valve 151 remains open until shoulder 92 on disk 89 rotates past springarm 102 to substantially fill the tray 25 with water. As shoulder 92 ondisk 89 passes spring arm 102 this arm shifts into abutment withperipheral edge portion 94 of the disk between shoulders 92 and 93thereon. This shifting of arm 102 permits pin 109 to move upwardly outof engagement with spring arm 106 and since arm 102 is in abutment withthe edge 94 of disk 89 pin 109 still maintains sub-switch 103-104closed. The upward movement of pin 109 out of engagement with spring arm106 causes this arm to shift thus opening sub-switch 106-107 and closingsub-switch 105-106 to de-energize valve 151 and for reconnecting theelectric circuit of thermistor 155 and relay 168. Thermistor 155 has bythis time been warmed in response to the temperature of water dischargedinto tray 25 and its resistance to flow of electric current therethroughis decreased thus readying the control of the electric circuit foranother water freezing ice block ejecting cycle before sub-switch103-104 of the circuit is opened. Sub-switch 103-104 now still beingclosed and operating the motor to continue rotation of disk 89, in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 8, for one complete 360rotation thereof causes shoulder 93 on the disk to engage and ride pastspring arm 102. Shoulder 93 depresses arm 102 and again deflects pin 109downward to momentarily repeat the opening of sub-switch 105-106 andclosing of sub-switch 106-107 in advance of arm 102 entering recessed orcut-out flat part 97 of disk 89. The momentary repeat closing ofsub-switch 106-107 energizes valve 151 to open same and deliver a finalpredetermined amount of water to tray 25 before spring arm 102 enterspart 97 of disk 89. As shoulder 93 rides past arm 102 this arm springsagainst the flat part 97 of rotating disk 89 with pin 109 following thearm 102 under influence of spring arm 103 to open sub-switch 103-104 forbreaking the electric circuit to the unidirectional motor and stoppingits operation. This prepares the ice making apparatus for another orsubsequent water freezing ice block ejecting cycle.

Apparatus cutmeans As hereinbefore mentioned, it is desired to stopproduction of ice blocks by the ice making apparatus upon accumulationof a predetermined number of ice blocks in the removable ice storagereceptacle 15, as this receptacle is moved from beneath tray 25 and/orwhen same is removed from freezing chamber 13 of the refrigeratorcabinet, in order that ice blocks will not overflow receptacle 115 andbe ejected at random into the freezing chamber. Receptacle 115 istherefore constructed to cooperate with rod 116 in a manner toaccomplish this desideration. For example and as has been described, the

angularly bent end 124 of rod 116 is normally in the position shown byfull lines in FIGURE 5 of the drawings compressing hairpin-like spring142 and held away from stop stud 141 by the angled and inclined shoulder131 on the top 129 of the handle portion of receptacle 115 at the frontthereof. Several successive water freezing ice block ejecting cycles ofthe ice making apparatus will produce an accumulation of ice blocks inreceptacle 115 and the weight of the accumulated ice then causes onelong side of the receptacle to compress spring 134 and tilt this oneside of the receptacle downwardly. Tilting movement of receptacle 115lowers the top surface 129 thereon and the angled end portion 124 of rod116 is slipped, under the influence of spring 142, over the shoulder 131to swing the rod against stop 141 as illustrated by the dot-dash linesin FIGURE 5 into the position above the lowered surface 129 of thedownwardly shifted receptacle as shown in FIGURE 10. The spring 142rotates the pivotally mounted portion of bar 116 and overcomes thespring tension of arm of switch 101 and lifts the contact thereonupwardly away from the contact on switch arm 106 to open the sub-switchformed by these elements. Opening of sub-switch 105-106 de activates theelectric circuit of the ice making apparatus, particularly relay 168 andthermistor 155, and terminates operation of the apparatus so that nomore ice blocks can be ejected from tray 25.

It is to be noted that the shifting of rod 116 to deactivate theelectric circuit of the ice making apparatus and terminate ejection ofice blocks therefrom in the manner just described can also be and ispreferably carried out in a different fashion. The cooperation ofreceptacle with rod 116 as herein disclosed supplies a two-fold purposethereof in the present apparatus. Rod 116 will be shifted as describedin response to moving the receptacle outwardly away from same and/ orwill be shifted in response to removal of the receptacle from chamber 13of cabinet 10 in serving ice blocks from the receptacle at a pointremote from the refrigerator. For example, any movement of receptacle115 out of cooperation with the cut-off portion of the apparatus willcause the spring 142 to shift rod 116 against the stop 141 for actuatinglever 121 associated with stack switch 101 to open the sub-switch105-106 thereof and temporarily interrupt flow of electric current tothe relay 168 thereby stopping production of ice blocks by the icemaking apparatus.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An automatic liquid freezer including a mold having means for holdingliquid, means for freezing liquid in said mold, means associated withsaid mold for discharging frozen liquid from said mold, a collecting binremovably mounted below said mold, fixed immovable means normally incontact with said bin for slidably supporting said bin, resilient meansbetween said collecting bin and said fixed supporting means forresiliently supporting said collecting bin relative to said supportingmeans, a feeler member normally biased into contact with said collectingbin for measuring the movement of said bin relative to said fixed means,and control means responsive to the movement of said feeler relative tosaid support for controlling said means for discharging frozen liquidfrom said mold.

2. An automatic liquid freezer including a mold means for holdingliquid, means for freezing liquid in said mold, means associated withsaid mold for discharging frozen liquid from said mold, a collecting binremovably mounted below said mold for receiving frozen liquid dischargedfrom said mold, means for removably supporting said bin, downwardlydeflecting resilient means between said collecting bin and saidsupporting means for resiliently supporting said bin relative to saidsupporting means for downward deflection of said bin in response to themass of frozen liquid collected therein, a feeler member, means fornormally biasing said feeler member downwardly into contact with saidbin, and control means responsive to the downward movement of saidfeeler member for stopping said means for discharging frozen liquid fromsaid mold.

3. An automatic liquid freezer including a mold having means for holdingliquid, means for supplying liquid to said mold, means for freezingliquid in said mold, means for discharging frozen liquid from said mold,a substantially rigid slideway, a removable bin slidably supported bysaid slideway for collecting the discharged frozen liquid from saidmold, resilient support means between said bin and said slideway, meansfor operating said liquid supply means and said discharging means, andmeans responsive to the presence of said bin in said slideway forrendering effective said operating means and responsive to thedeflection of said bin relative to said slideway for stopping theoperation of said operating means.

4. An automatic liquid freezer including a mold having means for holdingliquid, means for supplying liquid to said mold, means for freezingliquid in said mold, means associated with said mold for dischargingfrozen liquid from said mold, means for operating said liquid supplymeans and said discharging means, a collecting bin removably mountedbelow said mold for receiving frozen liquid discharged from said mold,means for normally and removably supporting said bin, downwardlydeflecting resilient means between said collecting bin and saidsupporting means for resiliently supporting said bin relative to saidsupporting means for downward deflection of said bin in response to apredetermined mass collected therein, a feeler member arranged forbiased downward movement into contact with said bin in its normallysupported position, and control means for said operating meansresponsive to the downward movement of said feeler member for stoppingsaid operating means whenever said collecting bin is sufficientlyweighted to indicate a full supply of frozen liquid or is removed.

5. An automatically operated liquid freezer comprising:

(a) a liquid receiving receptacle,

(b) a control means for said liquid freezer adapted to create liquidfreezing and frozen liquid ice ejecting cycles thereof for deliveringfrozen liquid therefrom into said receptacle,

(0) a support means for suspendingly supporting said receptacle inslidable association with said liquid freezer and for weighted movementrelative to said support means,

(d) a pivoted lever cooperating with said control means and havingengagement with a part of said receptacle for rendering the controlmeans effective and ineffective, and

(c) said lever being swingable and having a portion extending into thepath of the normal movement of said receptacle upon said support foractuating said control means both in response to sliding said receptaclealong said support means and to movement of the receptacle with respectthereto under the weight of a predetermined accumulation of frozenliquid in said receptacle for terminating a frozen liquid ejecting cycleof the liquid freezer.

6. A liquid freezer comprising in combination:

(a) a mold for receiving liquid to be frozen into blocks,

(b) a receptacle adapted to receive frozen blocks from said mold,

(c) a stationary support means for supporting said receptacle inassociation with said mold for sliding movement relative to the supportmeans and additional means providing for movement of the receptacle inanother direction with respect to said support means,

(d) a control means for creating mold liquid filling and liquid freezingcycles and frozen liquid ejecting cycles of said freezer,

(e) said control means including an actuator protruding therefromnormally engaging said receptacle to render the control means effectivefor causing said cycles of the freezer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,771,749 11/1956Miller.

2,994,205 8/1961 Brubaker et al 62----137 X 3,046,754 7/ 1962 Knifiin62135 3,163,019 12/1964 Hall 62-137 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

3. AN AUTOMATIC LIQUID FREEZER INCLUDING A MOLD HAVING MEANS FOR HOLDINGLIQUID, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID TO SAID MOLD, MEANS FOR FREEZINGLIQUID IN SAID MOLD, MEANS FOR DISCHARGING FROZEN LIQUID FROM SAID MOLD,A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID SLIDEWAY, A REMOVABLE BIN SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BYSAID SLIDEWAY, A REMOVABLE BIN SLIDABLY FROZEN LIQUID FROM SAID MOLD,RESILIENT SUPPORT MEANS BETWEEN SAID BIN AND SAID SLIDEWAY, MEANS FOROPERATING SAID LIQUID SUPPLY MEANS AND SAID DISCHARGING MEANS, AND MEANSRESPONSIVE TO THE PRESSURE OF SAID BIN IN SAID SLIDEWAY FOR RENDERINGEFFECTIVE SAID OPERATING MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO THE DEFLECTION OF SAIDBIN RELATIVE TO SAID SLIDEWAY TO STOPPING THE OPERATION OF SAIDOPERATING MEANS.